Blackwater Trial: Mercenaries Go Free

"The guards' attorneys contended that the statements were immunized -- meaning they could not be used in any criminal prosecution -- because their clients would have been fired if they had refused to comply."

The judge in this case ruled that the defendants constitutional rights were violated. Statements that were compelled to be given at the time of the incident were used as evidence. There has been speculation and allegations that the politicization of the Justice Dept. may have led to an attempt to subvert the prosecution of the case. These mercenaries may have gotten away with murder, (like OJ), but the civil penalties may not be as easy to evade. There is also speculation that the government may bring charges of giving false statements to investigators.

Under the circumstances, the judge had no choice but to dismiss the case. The rule of law does not allow otherwise.

So the USA hired a private contractor to do a military job specifically so they could wash their hands of anything going wrong !

This is one of the most blatant miscarriages of justice I've seen for a long time.

The charges were dismissed on a "technicality"

"Judge Ricardo Urbina said US Justice Department prosecutors improperly built their case on sworn statements that had been given under a promise of immunity. The judge did not rule on the substance of the charges against the security guards. As government contractors, the Blackwater employees were required to speak to an investigator after a shooting.

Judge Urbina said the use of these statements violated the defendants' rights against compelled self-incrimination.

''In their zeal to bring charges against the defendants … the Government used compelled statements to guide its charging decisions … and ultimately, to obtain the indictment in this case,'' the judge said in a 90-page opinion on Thursday. Because the indictment was thrown out on legal grounds, the Government could order an appeal. It could also charge the guards again, although a new prosecution could be difficult, given the judge's finding that the case was so thoroughly tainted." Source. smh

In a situation like this where there has been the use of mercenaries by a government, it's not just the Blackwater lot who should be on trial, the US government, and a justice system that allows (alledged) murderers to get off scot free without even a trial should answer too.

America is very quick to demand "justice" from foreign countries when their own are killed, how about setting an example?

The legionnaires of modern times. 

Are not Taliban and Al Qaeda just as bad. to each their own I suppose, Course killing innocent men, women and children should never be condoned by either side. At least Blackwater have to answer for it, versus terrorists who do not give it a second thought.

It seems this problem is not resolved properly. Actually, where the error in completing the mission.

Thank all of you for your well thought out comments.  Whether or not the mercenaries hired by the US government took justified action or not, the people who were affected by the action of Blackwater, see it as American aggression.  Just as every time an American citizen travels abroad, those hired by the Americans are representing the culture of the United States of America.